Beware of Freelance Scammers

I signed up for freelance sites that give me the opportunity to submit proposals for projects that interest me. I was so excited because four people contacted me almost immediately and wanted me to work for them.

The first thing they asked me to do was to contact them through Google Hangouts. Once I set that up, they interviewed me through the chat option. It all seemed very professional. The requirements for one of them is that they would send me a check for about $2,000 and I was to deposit, it but had to purchase software and a new computer with their "trusted vendor." That seemed OK with me, but then one of them asked for my Social Security number to do a background check.

I typed that I wasn't comfortable giving out that information. They became irritated (used all caps) that this was necessary for me to work for them. The kicker was when they asked me what my mother's name was. What? I told them right away that I was leaving this chat and rejected their "offer" of employment.

The second “employer” had the same spiel as the first but said that they would email me a pdf check and I was to print it and deposit with my bank app. I got the email and they had my name wrong and they also had the bank address in Lasing, Michigan (not Lansing). I told them that they got my name wrong and if this was an official bank, they wouldn't issue checks with the wrong city name. I rejected their "offer" too.

The third “employer” asked me to set up a Skrill account, which is similar to PayPal. I did this and then they asked that I deposit $14.90 (except they typed 14.9$) into my account as a deposit to work for them. What? I told them that I would not do that under any circumstance and rejected their "offer."

The fourth "company" seemed legitimate. They had a website that looked official. I was a little leery because of my previous scams, so I tried to be aware of any schemes. They even emailed me an offer letter, which I signed. All seemed to be above board except that the representative also wanted to email me a check, which I was supposed to deposit through my bank app and then purchase only from their trusted vendor. Sighing, because this one seemed legit, I told him that I was not on board with this and if I truly had a position, I wanted them to purchase the computer, install the software, and ship it to my home. Guess what? Yes, I did not receive another chat from him.

So, this is what I learned:

1) Scammers issue bogus checks and ask you to deposit them. They immediately want you to purchase the items through their vendor. They are the vendor. They are stealing money while the bank is in the process of reviewing the check.

2) Scammers will try to find out as much personal information as possible during the fake interview. They use the chat on Google Hangouts so they can use a fake photo and name.

3) For our protection, freelance sites want all communication and payment to go through them. Usually, a scammer will only work outside of this communication like Google Hangouts.

4) Look for poor grammar and punctuation. In regard to the third scammer, he wrote 14.9$ (the $ is in the wrong place) as an amount to deposit. If this is a scam and people fall for it, because it's not a large amount of money, the scammer could make a lot of money if even 100 people pay.

I Admire...

Steve's Typewritten Manuscript

I received a package in the mail which included a typewriter-written novel from Steven Paul Wilson. I am Steve's main editor. 

I've frequently discussed with my husband that it would've been so hard to write a novel in the olden days. Before the typewriter, all novelists had to handwrite their manuscript. And, they didn't have access to a pen or pencil...just a feather quill (ha) and an inkwell. But, think about the writing process. Instead of being able to go back and delete everything and change things around by copying and pasting, the authors had to be almost perfect in their writing. I'm sure they couldn't send their manuscript to a publisher with lines through sentences and arrows pointing them where they should read next.

The typewriter was immensely better but still not as efficient as a computer.

As mentioned before, I am Steve's main editor. I answered an ad in Guru.com to be an editor for a person who is currently incarcerated. It took about a month for us to start our working relationship, negotiating terms and types of communication. Because I have the wrong type of cell phone, the prison system would not allow us to call each other, so he writes letters, I respond on JPay.com (an email reviewed by prison staff) and his mom keeps in touch with me through his phone calls to her.

I edited his novel "The Girl in the Attic," which is being sold on Amazon. When I received the manuscript from his previous editor, it was in Microsoft Word format. I got to work right away and had to get used to receiving letters as his form of communication. Funny, how we get used to just sending an email without any thought.

The reason I admire Steven Paul is that he mailed me his new manuscript. It was completely written on a used, beat-up typewriter. Since I've known him, he's gone through three typewriters on his dime. I was so impressed when I thumbed through his manuscript and found no places where he scratched things out or wrote side notes. The manuscript is also scanned as a PDF, which I then have to export into a Word document. There are some extra steps we all have to do so that he can continue to write. In his ten years in prison, he has written seven novels.

It would be easy for him to be bitter and our lives couldn't be more different, but he is one of the most positive people I've ever met. His body might be incarcerated but his spirit isn't.

You can get to know Steven Paul Wilson better through his website stevenpaulwilson.com.

Organization is the Key

If you're thinking about quitting your job to become a freelancer, organization is the key. Usually, an organized person has a clean desk, stays on task, completes projects on or before scheduled deadlines, schedules their work well, and actually enjoys being organized.

Here are a few things to consider:

Accounting: Unless you hire a bookkeeper, you will need to be detail-oriented and organized with your accounting records. You will need to know the laws on write-offs, taxes, and records. You will need to have an efficient filing system. Excel works well, but you might need an online accounting program to organize your records. With your accounting system, you will need to input your payables/receivables, invoices, time-keeping, etc. This can take time out of your day, but an organized person doesn't put off inputting these records. They take care of them on a daily basis. Your tax preparer will appreciate your efforts!

If accounting is a nightmare for you, then hiring a bookkeeper is your best plan of action.

Introvert/Extrovert: When you work at home, you are alone. If you enjoy being around people, then this will be a huge transition. I enjoy being by myself and am energized by quiet time. I don't even turn on the TV for company because I like the quiet so much. Introverts succeed in this environment.

If you find yourself more social, then you'll have to be creative in finding ways to interact with people. Maybe the type of freelance work you do is more customer-service oriented. Maybe you'll need to turn on the TV or talk to your pet. Scheduling lunch dates with friends or family can also help with this.

Type of Work: Depending on your personality and skills, you will excel if you are matched up with the type of work you choose. If you are more introverted and detail-oriented, then working by yourself on quiet projects will be perfect. If you are more social, then customer service, talking on the phone, chat, sales, or recruiting will be the perfect jobs for you. Pursue your choice of work wisely.

Productivity: You won't need to work a full eight-hour day in order to accomplish the same amount of production at an office. Think about how much time you spend chatting with co-workers, going to meetings, joining conference calls, etc. All of these activities take away from your workload. When you're at home, you may have a conference call or have to attend a meeting, but mostly, you are dedicated to finishing your work. I usually stop working after six hours because I've accomplished what I wanted to accomplish and it was constant, productive work with no interruptions.

For more work-at-home information, visit www.realwaystoearnmoneyonline.com and www.theworkathomewoman.com. You can sign up for their weekly newsletters which contain valuable information and legitimate freelance leads.

Freelance Jobs...Short Tasks & Surveys

Short-task freelance jobs are options to make a little bit of cash or rewards on the side. I guess if you are diligent and spend all day working at this, you might be able to make some real cash. But, mostly, these sites are nice "side-job" options.

I've tried Swagbucks and Inbox Dollars but became very frustrated because their opportunities usually involve the person to sign up for something. As an example, they will offer $5 but you have to sign up to receive a "free" sample with the responsibility of later rejecting further offers. Or, you have to give away your email or Facebook account information. I quickly decided that those opportunities were not worth it.

A few of the reputable sites are Amazon MTurk and Clickworker. I tried both and enjoy Clickworker. It is easy to use and gives you opportunities to do different types of work that pay more. I tried Amazon MTurk for awhile. They have a lot of opportunities but I eventually shied away from using them because their interface is not friendly. To compare them with Clickworker, when I'm done with a task, it disappears. Therefore, when I get back to their home page, I am presented with the tasks that I can complete. On Amazon MTurk, my completed task turns a different color but it remains on the list and I have to spend time scrolling to find another task.

Taking surveys is another way to make extra money or rewards. I use Harris Poll Online which gives out rewards. The rewards are VERY minor so be aware of how much time you spend on each survey. There are other survey sites, but again, the number of rewards you receive according to your time spent is very minor.

When I first started looking at all the different types of freelance jobs, I was initially excited about all of these short-task opportunities. After trying them all, I realize that they are what they claim to be: side jobs that pay very little.

If you have some spare time, these sites can bring in a little bit of needed cash.

Freelance Jobs...Transcription

There is a high demand for transcriptionists which means there are a lot of freelance opportunities. Even though the opportunities may seem endless, the application process is strict and, as a beginner, you won't start out making a lot of money. Most companies pay per audio minute; the quicker you can complete your task, the more money you make. Those with a lot of experience have very successful careers.

Let's break down the pay: rates can range from $.30 to $2.00 per recorded minute. If there are 15 minutes of transcription at $1.00 per recorded minute, then you will get paid $15.00 whenever you finish. But, it is not easy to type the speed of people talking, plus the recording may be hard to hear. My first attempts would take me at least 45 minutes to an hour to complete the first draft. Then it would take me another hour to edit my first draft to make sure that I typed every word correctly and had the correct punctuation. Also, every company has different rules so I had to keep those in mind when I edited. After about 1.5 to 2 hours of work, I still got paid $15 (which is about $7.50/hour). Each company has a different rate of pay and each varies widely.

I tried transcription for a while but just didn't enjoy the work. I was excited to get started and it took me quite a while to become approved by just one company. I probably applied to 20-25 different transcription companies. The hardest part for me was hearing what people say on the recordings. After 15 minutes of transcribing, I became very tense because I was straining so hard to hear. If I stuck with it, I would probably be more successful and get used to listening to people and would, thus, be more successful. There are a lot of transcribers who are very successful.

Except for Rev.com, all of the companies have strict application processes. You usually have to transcribe at least one recording, take a grammar/proofreading and/or spelling test, have certain backgrounds or education, have previous experience, type at least 65 wpm, and many other criteria. Rev.com only gives you a couple of chances to fail. When you do, you are banned for life, which happened to me.

I liked the idea of transcription as a steady income and something to keep me busy. I still think it's a great freelance job which gives you the freedom to work when you can or want. There are so many companies that need your help, that I can almost guarantee you'll find a good fit. And, through practice, your transcription speed will ensure that your pay matches your experience.

Here are some transcription companies: Rev.com, 1-888-Type-It-Up, 3PlayMedia, Accutran Global, Appenscribe, Babbletype, Casting Words, Crowdsurf, Daily Transcription, Focus Forward, GMR Transcription, Net Transcripts, Quicktate, Scribie, SpeakWrite, Tigerfish, Transcribe.com, TranscribeMe, Ubiqus, Verbal Ink, Verilogue, Way With Words, WeLocalize